Universal connection between headwall and drainpipe



NOV. 17, 1931. SULLIVAN 1,832,333

UNIVERSAL CONNECTION BETWEEN HEADWALL AND DRAINPIPE Filed Aug. 13, 1930 FIG.l.

INVENTOR MICHAEL L. SULLIVAN m BY MMJWL-MOL/ ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1931 PATENT orrice MICHAEL L. SULLIVAN, F OXNARD, CALIFORNIA I UNIVERSAL CONNECTION BETWEEN HEAD'WALL AND DRAINPIPE Application filed August 13, 1930. Serial No. 474,953.

This invention relates to culverts, and more especially to an improved type of headwall for conduits of that general class.

An object of the invention is the provision of a headwall for a culvert, and means for connecting the culvert to the headwall whereby the culvert extends therefrom at an angle other than a right angle, thereby permitting the headwall to be disposed in a vertical plane, and the culver to slope either upwards or downwards therefrom, and/or at an oblique angle measured in a horizontal plane.

Another object is to so form the coupling 3 means that it is adjustable, thereby providing a universal coupling which is readily variable to permit the culvert to extend at any desired degree of singularity and at any desired direction from the headwall, so as to meet any particular set of circumstances of installation. f

Another object is to provide a universal coupling for a culvert, of the general class described, which is particularly adapted though not necessarily limited to use in con junction with a headwall of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,760,380, issued to me on May 27th, 1930.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a 5 part of the specification.

Referring tothe drawings: Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a pair of sidewalls of the present invention, with a I culvert extending therebetween as in actual service.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of one of the headwalls. This view may be considered as a vertical sectional view taken upon the line :22 of F 1, with the direction of view as indicated, this 'iew having been taken without the earth of the roadway disposed about the culvert.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of the headwaiis and culvert arranged angularly.

The device of the present invention represents an improvement over the headwall disclosed in Patent #l,760,380, issued to me on May 27th, 1930, although it should be eX- plained that the universal coupling of the present invention might also be appliedto other forms of headwalls without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

One of the universal couplings 6 of the present invention, is intended to be used to connect each end of a conduit such as a cul vert 7, to a headwall 8; Such arrangement of a culvert 7 and headwall 8, is commonly employed to provide a water course under a roadway 9, so as to prevent washing of the roadway 9 under storm conditions. As herein shown and described, each of the headwalis 8 is similar to the headwall disclosed in my aforesaid patent, comprising a sheet 11 of suitable material, preferably galvanized iron,- 70 and comprising an upstanding portion 12 preferably corrugated, with the top and bot tom edges bent into horizontal planes to provide top and bottom portions 13 and i i respectively, of the headwall. Rigidity is imparted to each headwall by a pair of spaced angle irons l6 riveted or otherwise attached to the back side of the upstanding portion 11, and suitable gusset plates 17 preferably having peripheral flanges 18, are interposed be tween the upstanding portion 11 and the horizontal portions 13 and 14 of the headwall 8. The extreme edges 19 of the-top and bottom 13 and 1 are introverted, thus providing flanges adapted to engage the earth 21 or other material within which the culvert 7 is embedded.

An aperture 22 is formed in the upstanding portion 11 of the headwall 8, preferably substantially centrally thereof; and a relatively short tube 23 is made fast to the upstanding portion 11 incommunication with the aperture 22. lVloreover, that end of, the tube 23 which is as ociated with the upstanding portion 11, is preferably tightly connected thereto, so as to prevent any possibility of leakage therebetween-all liquid passing through the tube 23 thus being conveyed through the headwall also, with the result 1m that the earth 21 filling the space between the two headwalls, will not be washed out due to any leakage from the culvert '4'.

An enlarged portion 2a is formed on the inner end of the tube This por tion may be formed of sheet metal either integral with or attached to the material of which the tube 22 is formed; or the enlargement 24 may be in the form of a casting; fitted upon the inner end of the tube T he enlargement 24 is spherical, or more precisely, the exterior surface thereof has the configuration of a spherical zone. i'dorcover, a plane taken through the spherical surface of the enlargement 24c in parallelism with, and as close as possible to the plane of the upstanding portion ll of the headwalh does not represent a true equatorial. plane of the sphere of which the enlargement 2 t represca-s: a zone. A diameter of the enlargement 2-imeasured in this plane, will not he a5 at as a diameter measured in a plane at a. s. ly greater distance from the plane of upstanding portion 11. in other words. the curvature of the outside surface of the can largement at, has been carried pastits portion of greatest diameter measured perpendicularly to the axis of the tube 23, so that the portion of the enlargement which is proximal to the upstanding portion 11 is of f'lightly reduced size. This permits an enlarged portion 26 which is formed on an end of a second tube 27. to be engaged upon the spherical portion of the tube in such a manner that the tube 27 can not he removed from the tube 23 without expanding the enlargement 26. Moreover, the enlargement 26 may be left sufficiently loose upon the enlargement 24, to permit universal adjustment of the tube 27 with. respect to the tube 28 whereby the tube 2'? extends at any selected degree of angularity with respect to the plane of the upstanding portion 11 of the headwall.

The tube 27 and, its enlargement 26 are split longitudinally into sections 28 and each of which is preferably slightly more than a semi-circle in crosssectional configuration. with the result that their lono' tudinal edges overlap as best shown upon Fi 1.1. Ian angle iron 31 extends longitudinally of each section 28. 29 adjacent each longitudinal cale'e thereof, thus providing 32 n 'h extend radially therefrom. A plurality of bolts 33 extend between associated flanges 32 of both sections 28, 29, so that when ghe nuts 84 thereof are tightened, the se ens and :29 are drawn firmlv together. ll he'z. r 3"- associated with the enlargeme ened, this enlargement will be tightly against the spherical surf-1 the enlargement 242 so as to rigidly re" n t e tube 27 in selected degree of angur Y, the plane of the upstanding: portion ll of the headwall.

The tube :27 is adapted to receive an end of the culvert 7, and inasmuch as these culverts are usually corrugated, I prefer to form the tube 27 complementarily thereto, although it would be entirely within the scope of the present invent-ion to omit the corrugations thereof. After insertion of an end of the culvert 7 into the tube 27, the bolts 33 at that end of the tube 27 'emote from its enlargement 26, may be tightened thus firmly clamping the sections 28 and 29 upon the culvert- 7.

in road construction, it frequently occurs in the installation of a storm drain, that one or both of the headwalls therefor. should be disposed vertically whereas the culvertextending therebetween, slopes at a material angle with respect to the horizontal. its will be readily apparent, such construction may very easily be atained by means of the uni-- versal coupling of the present invention whereby the culvert 7 may be attached to either or both headwalls 8 at any selected degree of angularity therewith. Obviously the universal coupling 6 also permits variation of the horizontal angle betweenthe culvert 7 and the headwall, with the result that the improved h adwall of the present invention makes it possible to meet substantially any circumstances of installation.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In combination, a culvert, a heudwall therefor comprising an aperturcd wall, and means for coupling said culvert to said wall said means enabling adjustment of said culvert with respect to said headwall to vary the angle therebetween.

2. In combination, a culvert. a headwall therefor, and means for coupling said culvert to said headwall. said coupling: means being); adjustable to vary the angularity of d culvertwith respect to said headwall.

In combination. a culvert, a headwall therefor, and means for coupling; said culv to aid headwall, said coupling means being: universally adjustable to vary the aneularity of said culvert with respect to said head A headwall for a culvert. comprising an apertured wall. a tube adjustably carr ed by said wall with its bore commimicatire with the aperture in said wall. the end of said tube remote fromv said wall. being; split in o sections. and means for clamping a culvert between said sections.

headwall for a culvert. conu nisinp; an apertured wall. a tube carried by said wall with. bore comn iicating with the aperture in said wall. said tube being adju table to vary its angularity with IQSDN'ii to said wall.

A hcadwall for a culvert, con'iprising an tured wad. a tube carried by said wall with its core communicating with the aperture in said wall, said tube being universally portion of said split tube upon that of said adjustable to vary its angularity with respect tube.

to said wall.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 7. In combination, a culvert, an apertured name to this specification.

headwall therefor, and a universal coupling comprising a tube rigid with said headwall and communicating with the aperture there in, a spherical enlargement on said tube, a second tube having a spherical enlargement adjustably engaging that of the rigid tube, and means for securing said culvert to said second tube.

8. In combination, a culvert, an apertured headwall therefor, and a universal coupling comprising a tube rigid with said headwall and communicating with the aperture therein, a spherical enlargement on said tube, a second tube having a spherical enlargement adjustably engaging that of the rigid tube, means for rigidly clamping said tubes in selected degree of angularity with each other, and means for securing said culvert to said second tube.

9. In combination, a culvert, an apertured headwall therefor, and a universal coupling comprising a tube rigid with said headwall and communicating with the aperture therein, a spherical enlargement on said tube, a second tube having a spherical enlargement adiustably engaging that of the rigid tube, said second tube and its enlargement being split longitudinally into two sections, and means for clamping said sections together with an end of said culvert received therebetween.

10. In combination, a culvert, an apertured headwall therefor, and a universal coupling comprising a tube rigid with said headwall and communicating with the aperture therein, a spherical enlargement on said tube, a second tube having a spherical enlargement adjustably engaging that of the rigid tube, said second tube and its enlargement being split longitudinally into two sections, an end 4 of said culvert being receivable between said sections, and means for clamping said sections together upon said culvert and for tightening the enlarged portion of said split tube upon that of said rigid tube.

11. In combination, a culvert, an apertured headwall therefor, anda universal coupling comprising a tube rigid with said headwall and communicating with the aperture therein, a spherical enlargement, on said tube, a

I second tube having a spherical enlargement adiustably engaging that of the rigid tube, said second tube and its enlargement being split longitudinally into two sections, an end of said culvert being receivable between said sections, a flange extending longitudinally of each of said sections adjacent each edge thereof, and means engaging associated flanges of both sections for drawing them toward each other to clamp said sections upon said culvert and to tighten the enlarged MICHAEL L. SULLIVAN. 

